LWMS Convention

Today I was able to enjoy water exercise class with the group since we did not have Bible study at Victory. People were not expecting me to be there and met some new people today which was nice. Glad that we could get together. 

It was fun to sit out afterward with the ladies and visit while we dripped dry. My new neighbors were out there, unfamiliar with the routine surrounding the pool and its rules. The mom sent the kids out to the cabana to order meals from inside the dining room via Marlena but she was reluctant to do so without the mom being there. I can't say I blame Marlena in case the mom didn't know the kids were doing so. I guess they got it all straightened out and lunches were ordered. Would have been simpler for the mama to order pizza for delivery. It's interesting having little kids in the building, there haven't been any since Travis and Jessica moved out. They are St. Johns kids so I expect great things from them!

This evening I am watching the opening service of the LWMS Convention taking place in Rapid City, SD. Judy C. is attending from our church, and Nancy M. from Victory is there with a former member of Victory. Emily and her family relocated to SC and now attend church with Judy's daughter and her family. Judy had called to reserve when rooms were made available but the host hotel was full almost immediately. She ended up getting a room off-site, so was concerned about transportation and such for her excursions and the convention events. 

It turned out that I was chatting with Emily a week or so ago, she asking me if knew the person who had been assigned to her daughter as a roommate at MLC. She says I know so many people but didn't know this young lady from Fond du Lac. Anyway, Emily mentioned they had room for one more in their room in the host hotel so I told Judy about it. She accepted the offer and will room with Emily, Nancy M. and another friend of Emily's. I am glad that worked out for Judy, though she will be sharing a bed with a stranger. Saving a bunch of money and aggravation in the process, though. 

So as I was watching the service on-line this evening I saw Judy and Nancy as they were walking down the aisle for the Lord's Supper, plus I saw Joyce R. from First German. I knew she was going to the Convention because she told me about her plans when I was in WI. Pretty cool to be able to pick people out of this crowd of about 1700. I plan to follow the rest of the convention if possible and see who else I can pick out! Saving the airfare and all that, watching from the comfort of my home!

Meeting of the minds

This morning I skipped going out for exercise class because I had a luncheon meeting to attend right after 11 a.m. I didn't wish to go to the meeting smelling like sunscreen and chlorine. It was a beautiful day, so I sort of hated to miss being out there with the gang. Once a month it can't be helped. 

Before I went to the meeting, though, I stopped at the cabana, seeing some workmen there. One was The Club maintenance man, and the other, an  electrician who used to do work for us when I was in business. Nice to see Jeff again! They had figured out what was causing the 'charge' in the pool and was going to rewire a bunch of stuff which had been done by non-professionals in the first place. NOT a good idea to mess with wires and pipes if you're not a pro. Jeff measured the amount of electricity in  the water as being between 3-4 volts, not dangerous but certainly not a blessing either. 

At the meeting today our guest speaker was the State Senator Rob Bradley who represents our district in Tally. He had much to tell us especially since the House and Senate had just come back after their emergency session to settle the budget. He informed us about the cuts which were made as well as how some programs important to our area would be taken care of. One program designated for girls at risk in the gov't schools interested me. Apparently neighboring counties have such programs, called PACE, but Clay did not. Only later did I find out that Jennifer Bradley is the Chairman of this program which I like even better. (I know both Sen. and Mrs. Bradley through my former neighbors, Travis and Jessica, plus their son would have graduated with Timmy last year.) 

This was the first luncheon I attended where Courtney, the dining room manager who recently passed away, was not running the show. It felt strange, odd, which was surprising to me. Everything still went smoothly without her, but I felt like her absence was palpable. Certainly that feeling will pass as time does. I sure did enjoy the meal and in particular the home-baked oatmeal cookies they serve as part of the dessert. The wait staff makes sure my soda glass is kept full, too. I believe I am the only one who gets soda instead of the usual teas and water. This is fine with me!

Before everyone had left after the meeting, Rob asked those remaining to pose for a photo. You can tell which one is Rob, in the center near me, and his wife in the blue dress on the end. Tara Green has her hand on my shoulder. She is Clerk of Courts and my neighbor, Debbie's, boss. A real sweetheart!  I do look forward to hearing more about the program to help the at-risk girls in Clay County and see how I can pitch in. 

Eat, eat, eat

Today I had to rush off from water exercise class to get over to Wells Road for lunch. The Over 50 Lunch Bunch was gathering at Rosina's Italian Restaurant, our first time dining there. I was the last one in the door, though I was a few minutes earlier than the set time of noon. From the menu I chose an order of garlic knots to have as an appetizer and to sop up my sauce from my meal. For 16 of us, the service was not bad, considering there were only two waitresses. I can't tell you how many folks were at work in the kitchen but the pizza ovens seemed busy enough. And, we were not the only customers in the restaurant!

My red purse marks the spot where I was seated

We had three men dining with us, the rest were women (Gordon had left the table before I took the picture). Judy J. was seated across from me. We frequently dined at Aron's Pizza before attending Bible Information Classes several years ago. I know how much she loves garlic and she was blown away by my garlic knots. They reeked! I took along more than half of my lasagna and three of the knots. When I got home from lunch, I put the knots in a Ziploc bag to have another time. Later on, I went into the kitchen for something and was surprised that I could smell the knots right through the bag! I went back to my room and brushed my teeth as I am sure the garlic smell lingers in my mouth and breath. That means nothing but good! 

This evening Justin and I went to have dinner at Saigon Tokyo (Koko's). He gets paid on Mondays and likes to eat out then but he was too pooped to go last night. Tracy makes a Tuesday Special but neither of us ordered, having our usual teriyaki chicken and fried rice. Most of mine came home as did some of Justin's so our fridge is going to smell interesting in the morning! Leftovers for dinner tomorrow or the next day, for sure.

I dropped the ball, perhaps

Earlier this summer, not quite pool season, I had gotten a message from a friend, Cal. He wondered if I was coming out to the pool that day, he wanted me to come outside to play. I was at Bible study at Victory that day so couldn't. His question was not as weird as it sounds since a group of us hung out with his wife and him often at the pool, and I am the one who lives the closest, so it was an okay thing to say to me. What was weird is that it was only the end of April and not quite pool weather yet. 

The following weekend he sent me another message, asking me when he would get to see me again. The message came when I was at Great Hang Ups and would be there for the day, so I wouldn't see him. I told him perhaps I'd see him the next day after church and lunch. Again, it was still a bit early for pool time for me, but he seemed eager to see me. Who can resist? Well, it didn't work out, no one was at the pool when I got home from lunch, so I didn't worry about it. 

Cal was leaving on a trip. I followed his travels on Facebook, and it seemed he was traveling with a couple. His wife works a full-time job and with school in session yet possibly could not get off work to accompany or had no desire to do so. 

Fast forward to today---I got a text message again reporting that his wife and he were separated. He indicated being heartsick over it which makes me wonder if he had wanted to talk about all this with me. I wish now I'd made an attempt to get out there, not thinking I could do anything about it, but to listen. I haven't spoken with Joann to find out what is going on, her side of the story (I didn't really get a story, other than being heartsick) but I am still feeling badly that I didn't try harder to talk with him. I so hate this for people, especially those about whom I care. Nuts!

Father's Day

Here I am, back in the house after the thunder came and shooed us out of the pool. Big fat rain drops were hitting the pool water, sending people celebrating Father's Day there scattering for shelter. Nuts!  The Club is busy today, not as busy though as Mother's Day. I feel rather badly about that.

Justin and I went to lunch with our usual group, no one having plans with a dad. Mike's lives in MN so doesn't see him often. We went to Chili's and didn't have to worry about not getting a table, since church gets out a half hour earlier during the summer worship times. While we were there the clouds started to roll in, but I figured there would be enough time to get changed and out to the pool. And there was!

About Father's Day---last month for Mother's Day, we had an abbreviated Bible study and then a special breakfast was served to the moms and others by the new fellowship people. We had a piece of paper on the tables to write something about our mothers and something about being a mother, as it applied. Then we were to share what we wrote with those at the table, before we could go and get our food. Pastor was in charge of this event. When some ladies were resistant he did allow them to get some food without sharing. It was a bit uncomfortable, for some. 

The moms, then, were presented a rose by their children, if they were there, and then the other moms got theirs. Terri nicely took care of the ladies at our table, since we had no kids present to wait on us. And then we had to get into church for worship, carrying our roses with us. Years ago we got carnations from someone, might have been the pastor, but that was after church. The sermon was about mothers and all that, hymns about the family which are so good. And when it's Father's Day, it is no muss, no fuss. We did have a hymn about the Christian family but no flowers or special breakfast for the dads. Sorry, guys!

Shockingly good time

Oh, what an awesome day it was today!!  Almost all the afternoon was spent at the pool with friends. Mark and Jacquie were there, Mo and Ro, plus others coming and going during the day. Even Burney came out later on which meant that he and I would be having an ice cream treat, because that is what we do!

It was the official re-opening of the cabana so Chef Sheldon was around with his camera, capturing the moments. A new sous chef, Charles, was doing on-the-job training for Bob, teaching him the fine art of flipping burgers. There were several helpers in the newly renovated 'kitchen' of the cabana to make sure people got what they ordered and in a timely manner. 

There was a bit of excitement besides the cabana being re-opened. At one point, Mark reached over to the drain along the edge of the pool, while standing in the water, and jerked his hand back quickly. I noticed he did this, figuring there was a stinging bug or something in the drain. He put his hand back again, and withdrew it quickly. There was a slight current in the water flowing along the lip of the pool, and we know this because each of us in our little group had to go and try it. Yup, there it was---we all felt it. Chef was gone already so we got a guy from the cabana come out to put his hand in but he felt nothing. Hmmm...

It wasn't all the time either, the current came and went. We wisely (ha ha) moved across the pool to the other side because certainly water does not conduct electricity. It came and went, and we all speculated on what was going on. Later in the afternoon when most of the others had gone, my neighbor, Dick, came down for a swim. I told him our story and he was interested in what I was telling him, but perhaps not convinced. He put his hand on the rail to walk down in to the water and sure enough---he could feel it, too. As did my friend, Bob, who at first thought we were loony. It seems one had to be in the water or barefooted to detect the current, as the guy from the cabana determined. 

Later as I sat poolside with Mark S. and his wife, Patty, I noticed that the exterior lights on the cabana were going off and on. I experimented and found that the feeling of current in the water was evident only when the lights were on, on the south side of the pool. Marlena said the lights were on a sensor, meant to come on only at night, but there was tape over it. When I explained my discovery to her, Bob and she went to the circuit box to shut off the switch for the lights. They thought they had the right circuit but the lights kept coming on. Either they did it wrong or....gulp!  The maintenance man was on vacation so would not be available to consult until the next week. I offered to make myself available to him if there were questions. We shall see if there are any calls for my consultation on this matter. Never a dull moment at the pool!

Here is a video put together by Chef Sheldon for the Facebook page, starring yours truly! Copy and paste the link into your browser to view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEuUXYxy3yk&feature=em-share_video_user

It's all about the timing

I have been thinking about timing, time, a lot lately. One Sunday as I drove to church I hit every green light. Like in baseball when a pitcher is in a no-hitter situation, I didn't want to think about it. I simply appreciated the breeze with which I drove to church. On the ride to the restaurant later, it was not to be the case. Had to stop for every light, it seemed. Funny how that works. My friend, Mo, was telling a story at the pool yesterday and noted how a recent ride had given her all green lights. It is noteworthy when it happens.

One of my Victory friends noted her recent brush with danger or accident. A couple vehicles in front of her were pulling trailers. When one moved over to change lanes, its trailer detached and struck the other truck. How does that happen? And why on the freeway? She saw it happening and was able to avoid the accident. Fortuately no one was hurt but the vehicles and trailer were damaged. She wrote, "If I had been going any faster....", and you know the rest. Whew! I feel so badly for the commuters who face that traffic day upon day. My nerves don't care for that one bit.

The other day Nancy came out to meet me at the pool. She no sooner got into the water and it began to thunder. Nuts!  Even if no storm materializes, we still have to sit out until there is no thunder for 30 minutes. The thunder kept on so we parted company to try another time. If only we'd gone out earlier....

Watching the traffic flow is interesting, too. The cars are in a dance of sorts, passing within inches of each other, seemingly held apart by paint on the pavement. The lights change and another line of cars proceed. On Sunday mornings, more than once I've experienced having to sit through the red light twice before leaving Blanding for Argyle Forest Blvd. The first time it happened I thought the lights must be messed up. After about four minutes, we at last got the arrow to turn. I was thinking we should go around on the red since no cars were coming. The second Sunday it happened made me think the lights must be timed this way for whatever reason. During the week it is set to cycle the usual way, but at this time of morning on Sunday, apparently we heading up the hill into Argyle can wait. We've got time!